Indra Translations
Navigation
Star-Embracing Swordmaster Chapter 219: Night of Peace, Holy Words (2)

Chapter 219: Night of Peace, Holy Words (2)

It​⁠ was a snowy⁠⁠‌ night.

It​‌​ was a quiet​​ night where you‍ could even hear‌ the sound of⁠ snowflakes falling to⁠‍ the ground.

Vlad,‍​⁠ who was sitting⁠‌ alone on the‌ wooden fence of⁠ the stable, hugged​ his cloak and​‍⁠ watched the snowflakes‍⁠ gently falling.

“Here,‍​ the snow arrives​ a bit late.”​‍

If‍‌ it were his⁠​‌ hometown, Soara, this‍⁠‌ would be the⁠‌ time when the‌‍‍ snow would be⁠⁠ piling up.

However,⁠​⁠ in Valetta, a city in the‌ central region’s interior,⁠‍ the snow was‌‍‌ just beginning to‍⁠ fall, making him‌‌ realize how far​⁠​ he had come.‌‍

“Is‌⁠‌ it delicious?”

Neigh-‍⁠

Noir,⁠⁠​ who had his‌ head buried in‍ the trough, expressed​ his contentment at‍‍‍ Vlad’s words by⁠⁠​ snorting happily. Although‍‍‍ it was a winter scarce in⁠ food, Noir’s trough‍⁠‌ was filled with‌‌‌ large grains of⁠ corn.

“You’re‍​‍ lucky too. After​ all, today is‌ Liberation Day.”

The‍‍ abundance of food⁠⁠ that Noir ate⁠⁠ today was not‍‌⁠ just for the⁠ upcoming mission.

As‍ Vlad had just​​ said, today was‍ also Liberation Day,‌ commemorating humanity’s liberation‍‌ from the most‌⁠⁠ perfect dragon.

Today,​⁠​ in honor of​‌‍ the country’s founding​‌ king, a saint‍‍ recognized by the‌⁠ church, and the⁠ Sword Master, who‌‍ was also a knight of knights,‍​ was a day​ when everyone, including‌⁠ humans and livestock,⁠‍‌ enjoyed a plentiful​ dinner.

“My‍ mom used to‍‍ say that my‌‍⁠ birthday was around‌⁠‌ this time.”

[Really?]⁠‌​

And⁠​ it was said​‍​ that the day‍‍ Vlad was born⁠⁠‌ was probably around​⁠ this time.

Although⁠⁠ he was very‌‍‍ young to remember​‍​ clearly, the boy‍⁠ from the alleys‌ recalled being born⁠​ in a snowy‍​​ winter.

“Anyway,‌‌‍ they are kidnapping‌ children again. Do​ they have some‌​⁠ kind of problem‌‌ with those kids?”‍⁠

Vlad,⁠ who was scratching⁠⁠‌ the ground helplessly‍ with a branch,‌‍ remembered what the‌‍​ Count had told⁠‍‍ him and let‌ out a heavy‍​ sigh.

Count⁠ Arnstein had said​ that there was‍‌ an unknown monster‍​​ wandering the outskirts⁠​ of the city​​​ and territory, kidnapping​ children, and when‍‍‍ Vlad heard this,‌⁠‍ he could feel‌‍⁠ he had come‌ to the right‌ place.

Just​⁠‍ like in Moshiam‌ and the foggy​‍‍ village, the same‌‍ was happening here‍ in Arnstein’s territory.⁠‌

[There​​ must be a reason they are‌‍ taking only the‌ children.]

There‍​ must be a reason.

But‌ Vlad would never‌⁠‍ understand it, no​‍‍ matter the reason​⁠‍ given to him.‌‍‍

“Whatever‍ the reason, I can’t accept it.”⁠

Vlad,‌​‌ who had been‌ lowering his head‍‌‍ silently, suddenly lifted‍​⁠ it and looked​⁠ towards the houses​‍‍ below.

Among‌‌ the illuminated houses,‍ some remained in⁠ darkness.

“Especially​ for those in⁠‍ those dark houses.”‍

It‍⁠‌ was a day​ when everyone should​​ be happy, but​​‌ there were people‍ who would be⁠⁠ even sadder because​⁠ it was such⁠‍ a day.

Vlad,‍​ who knew their‍ feelings well, patted⁠‌ Noir’s back and⁠ exhaled a deep,‍‍‍ silent sigh.

There⁠ was a village‍‌ where everyone held​⁠ their breath.

***​‌‍

A small village where⁠‌⁠ only a few⁠​​ dozen families lived.‍

But‌⁠ today, the reason‌​‍ why the villagers‌ held their breath⁠⁠ and locked themselves‍‌‌ inside their houses​‌ was not simply⁠‍‍ because the night‍⁠‍ was deep.

Crash!‌‍​

Suddenly,​‌ a crash broke​‌ the silence in​‍ one part of‍​ the village.

It​​​ was the sound⁠‌‌ of a small‌⁠ house collapsing.

It‍​​ was the house⁠​​ of the only⁠‍ herbalist in the​‌​ village, and in‍​‌ it lived a child who had‌ just turned four.​​⁠

“No!⁠‍ My son! My​​⁠ son!”

In‌ the bright moonlit‌ night, a woman‌⁠ screamed desperately at‌ the stranger who​​ was taking her‌‍​ son away.

The⁠​ child the man‌​⁠ was holding was⁠ now the only​‍‍ treasure the poor‌ couple had, a kind of hope​‍⁠ that allowed them‍​ to keep living.⁠​

-······.‍​

However,⁠⁠⁠ the man’s eyes‍‌ as he looked⁠ at the crying⁠ woman were simply‌‌ cold.

Perhaps​‌ because of the⁠ moonlight, his blue‌ eyes shone coldly​ as he turned‍‌‍ his head and⁠⁠ continued on his‍ way without hesitation.⁠‌​

The‍⁠ child’s sobs could‌ be heard from‍ the tattered backpack‌⁠ the man carried⁠‍ on his shoulder.‍​

¡Kwaang-!‍⁠

“…I​​⁠ finally found you.”‌

And​​​ there were knights‌ who followed the‍‍⁠ cries and came.‍‌⁠

With‍​ a crash, a knight burst through⁠ the door illuminated⁠‌ by the moon,‌ smiling.

“Finally,‌​​ I can see⁠⁠​ your face.”

Though​‌⁠ he was out​⁠​ of breath from​⁠‌ running so hard,⁠⁠ Pablo had a cold smile on​‍​ his face that​ was hard to‍‍​ hide.

This‌ was because the‍​‌ tragedy he had‍ not been able‌​⁠ to prevent until‌‌ now was in​ front of him.​

“Why​⁠ don’t you put​ the child down‍‌ first?”

-······.‍

Pablo‍⁠⁠ of Arnstein.

His⁠ world began to‍⁠​ flow from his‌ closed left eye.​‍⁠

His‍ world, of fiery​ golden color, was​⁠⁠ also the world‌ that created the‍​ possibility of Vlad​ of Soara.

“Then‌‌​ I will only⁠‍ kill you halfway.”⁠‌‍

A long time ago,‍‍ today, the Sword‍⁠ Master, a knight⁠ among knights, killed⁠​ the most perfect‍⁠⁠ dragon.

To‍‍​ honor him, who​ was where he​ should be, the‌ knights of Arnstein‍‌⁠ did not hesitate​⁠ to hide in⁠ this ramshackle village.‌

***‌‌⁠

¡Hiiiiiiii-!⁠‍

Stop⁠​‌ him! Don’t let⁠​ him pass!

Block‍​​ the way even⁠‌⁠ if you have‍‍ to use your‌ bodies!

The​‌ horse with eyes‍​‍ blazing blue kicked‍‍ fiercely.

The​​ horse that the​⁠ man rode seemed‌ to realize the​ gravity of the⁠‌ situation and ran‌‍ wildly, but Pablo‌‍​ didn’t hesitate to​​‌ walk himself into​⁠ the storm.

“Haaa!”‍‌

Crash!⁠ Bang!

Even⁠ though the strong‌ blows of the⁠​​ hooves shook the​ ground, Pablo advanced‍​⁠ without hesitation because​⁠ he held the⁠⁠ wall that protected‍​ the crying child.​⁠‍

Pablo’s‍ firm determination to​ protect the child⁠ was unstoppable, both⁠ in Deirmar and‍‌ now.

“I‍ told you to‍ get down first!”​

Pablo’s​⁠‌ swordsmanship was neither​​‍ flashy nor fast.‍‌

It​‌​ was simple and​​‍ basic, but its⁠ threat lay in‌‌ the shield that‌​⁠ blocked all the⁠​⁠ enemy’s intentions.

Slash!​​

Hiiii!​

Despite​‌ the violent blows,​ Pablo raised his‌⁠⁠ sword.

Finally,⁠​‍ the horse, frightened​ by the movement​ of the gleaming‍ blade, reared up,​‌ and the tense‍‍⁠ balance began to⁠⁠ collapse.

“Now!”‍

“Go‌‌‌ in!”

The⁠ unknown man’s sword‌‍ was just one,⁠​‌ but there were‍​‌ more knights charging‌‍‍ against him.

To⁠‌‍ prevent a family​​‍ tragedy that could⁠‍​ happen today, some‍ people used their​‍‍ whole bodies to⁠‌ block the path⁠ of the sword,‌ while others began‍⁠ to block the‌‍​ horse’s way.

“Sir‌‌ Pablo!”

“Well⁠ done!”

And‍ when a determined‌​ knight entered and⁠​⁠ twisted the man’s​ right arm and‌‌⁠ picked up the​⁠⁠ crying child, Pablo,​⁠ who had been‌ waiting for the‌​ right moment, gritted⁠‌⁠ his teeth.

“What​⁠​ do you think‍​​ you’re doing here?!”​‌

Clang!‌‍

Pablo,​ who could no‌​ longer contain himself,‍‍​ clashed sword and⁠ shield with all‌ his might.

Then,​​ Pablo’s world that‌‌‌ appeared was like‍ the solid wall‌‍‌ of a castle.​‍‌

Although​‍ the enemy was‌‍ riding a horse,​​‌ in a dead-end‍‌ situation like this,‌ having your feet​⁠​ on the ground⁠‍ was advantageous.

“I’ll​‌ show you what​⁠​ it means to​ half kill!”

Clang!‌ Clang!

Sword​ clashed against sword,​​ but the sound⁠‍ heard was like​‍​ the sound of⁠​‍ a cannonball firing.​‌

Although⁠‍ Pablo was fighting​‍‍ an opponent on‍‍‍ horseback, it would⁠‍ have been more‍​⁠ advantageous for him​‌ to be on‍ the ground in‍‍​ a situation like​‌‌ now where there‌​ was no way‌⁠⁠ to disperse.

-Only⁠‍ halfway, you said.‌‌

Despite‌​ the danger, the​‌⁠ mysterious man remained​​⁠ calm.

-Do‍ we have such‍‌ vain threats?

“What?”‍⁠‌

Pablo​‌⁠ sensed a sinister⁠ signal in the‌ man’s words.

“We?”⁠‌⁠

The⁠​ mysterious man who⁠⁠‍ had been acting​‌ alone.

However,​‍‌ the people emerging‌​‌ from the darkness‍⁠‍ with laughter were‍⁠ clearly not just‍​‍ one, but many.‍

-Not‌⁠ only you can‍ set traps.

“…!”​⁠

The‌‌​ mysterious man laughed‌‍⁠ while the knights,⁠​‍ surprised, retreated.

As‍‍​ he removed his⁠‌ hood, the man’s‌‌‍ head rolled, showing‌‍⁠ a smile towards‍ Pablo.

“Damn​​ bastard!”

Under‍⁠ the clouds that​ obscured the moon,‍⁠⁠ unidentified men began‍​‌ to arrive running.‍

All⁠‍‌ of them lowered‍​‌ their heads and,​ looking at the‍​‌ Arnstein knights fighting⁠‍ on the ground,​ began to mock‍ them with fierce‌⁠ kicks and flying‍ swords.

“Close‌ formation! Protect the​⁠​ children and their​ families!”

The‍‌ knights’ cries were‍‌​ filled with the⁠ blood that spurted⁠‍​ out.

They⁠​ thought they were‍ hunting, but they⁠⁠​ were the hunted.​⁠ Pablo tried to⁠ gather his world⁠​ with his closed⁠‌​ eye.

Crack!‍‍

Ugh!‍‍

-······!​‌​

At⁠ that moment, a headless knight was​‌ violently thrown by‌‌‌ a spear that‌​ flew suddenly.

The⁠ throw was so​⁠⁠ strong that the‍⁠‌ spear stuck in‌⁠ the ground was​​‍ still trembling.

-Who⁠ are you?

A small village situated‌‍ on the plain.​

The​‌‌ noise of strong⁠‌‍ horse hooves began‌‍​ to be heard​ beyond the wooden​‍ fence that the‍⁠​ village’s residents had‍ barely raised.

The‌‍​ Arnstein banner, the​ Imperial Guard banner,⁠⁠ and even the‍‌‍ Northern banner, which‍⁠‍ was small but‍‌‍ had numerous patterns​ embedded in it.​​‍

Seeing​‍⁠ the dust approaching‍‌ on the horizon,⁠ the headless man‍ had no choice⁠‌⁠ but to hurriedly​⁠ remove the spear‍‍ from his subordinate’s⁠ body.

“Did⁠‌ I hit him?”‍‍

[You‍ hit him. For‍‌ sure.]

“It‍​ was my first‌ throw, but it‌ went well. It‍ was worth watching‌ Sir Volkov do⁠ it before.”

It​‌ was a man‍‌ with impressive blue⁠ eyes.

The⁠‌⁠ bulging muscles of⁠‌ his shoulders made⁠‌ it clear who‌ had thrown the‍​ spear that had⁠‌‍ just flown.

Swoosh!⁠

Clang!‌​

“Guess​ he didn’t like​ the gift I sent.”

The​⁠ knights around were‌‌⁠ surprised to see⁠‌⁠ Vlad casually accepting‌‍‍ the spear that​​ came flying from⁠ afar.

Although​ he was showing‍⁠ the most impressive⁠ powers, the senses‍⁠⁠ of the dragon’s‍ blood simply accepted‌ even the current‍​‍ situation as if​⁠ it were natural.‍

“The‍⁠‌ enemies are escaping!”‌⁠

“Damn‌​‍ it! Don’t let‍‍ them escape!”

The‍‌‍ commander of the​‍​ Arnstein knights felt‍ relieved seeing the‌⁠ intruders escaping from⁠ their knights, but​ on the contrary,‍ he was growing⁠​⁠ more and more⁠‌ impatient.

“Run!‌‌‍ We can’t lose⁠​‍ them again!”

If​‌ they lost them‍⁠​ now, other children‍⁠ would disappear.

But⁠‌‍ despite his cries,​‍ the intruders were‌​‍ already mounted on⁠⁠⁠ their horses.

“Damn!⁠ We can’t let‍ them ride!”

Although​ dozens of knights‍​ charged, they knew‍‌‌ they couldn’t catch​‌ them.

The​ Arnstein territory was‌​ a land full​⁠ of fertile plains‌ and a place‌ with no obstacles‌ to block them.⁠‍

“…”‌

Suddenly,‌ a yellow flash‌​‍ appeared in the​⁠​ village.

Vlad‍‍ could recognize at‍⁠​ a glance from‌​ whom that familiar‍‍⁠ light in his‌​ eyes came.

[Pay⁠⁠⁠ your debts.]

“I​⁠ know.”

Despite​⁠ chasing the headless​​​ knights, the gap‍⁠ was widening.

When⁠‍‍ the knights behind⁠‍​ grew tired of​‌‍ the ever-widening gap,‌ there was a black shadow that​ left the formation‌ in peace.

“Anyway,‌‍ my life has​‌⁠ always been about‍ paying debts.”

From‍​ the sword given‌ to him by​ the old man‍​ to the tears‌​​ shed by the​⁠⁠ girl.

Vlad‌ knew that the‌⁠​ path he had‍‍​ walked was filled‍‍⁠ with debts to‌‍‍ pay.

Finally,‍ the clouds dissipated​​‍ and the blue​ moonlight illuminated the‍‍ wide plain, pointing​‌ to a single⁠ path.

Vlad​​​ looked at the‍⁠‌ light shining brightly,‍‌ as if he‍​​ could simply run‌‍ through that place,​​ and tightly grasped​​​ the reins he‌ held.

“Let’s⁠‍‌ go!”

Heeeeeeeeee-!‍‌‍

A son of the‍ prairie who inherited‍‍ the lineage of​‌‌ the unicorn.

The​ horns of Noir,‍‍​ gradually rising through⁠ the worlds they‌⁠ encounter, began to‍​‌ pass through the​ banners of the‍‍ central region.

“That…”⁠

The​ commander of Arnstein⁠​‌ and Rodrigo were​‌‌ stunned by the⁠​ speed.

-······!‌

“Do​ we know each‌ other?”

The‍ Headless Knights were‍⁠ astonished to see⁠‍ Vlad like this.⁠​‌

Although‍ they had escaped⁠ death, they couldn’t‌ help but retreat‍ before the horse​⁠‍ with the shining⁠⁠​ horn.

“I‌‌‌ can’t know if‌⁠ we know each⁠⁠‌ other without heads.”⁠⁠

“You…”‍⁠

“I‌‌⁠ am Vlad of‌⁠ Soara.”

The‍​⁠ heartbeat he heard‌⁠⁠ was similar to​​⁠ that of those⁠⁠‍ without color.

The‌‍​ aroma of tea​ floating in the​‍‍ wind was similar⁠‍ to what the‍⁠ woman in black⁠ usually drank.

But⁠‌⁠ the smile he‍‍​ gave was chilling,‍​ different from hers.​​

“I‌​ came in place⁠​⁠ of Pablo of‍‍ Arnstein, whom you‌⁠​ defeated.”

The​​‍ sword was crying.‌‌

Now⁠‍ it’s his turn⁠​​ to use the‍​ sword to kill‌ the roaring dragon.‍

“Go‍‍‌ find your lost⁠​​ heads!”

He‍​ hoped tonight would⁠‌‌ be a quiet‌⁠‌ night where no​ one cried.

Vlad,⁠ who had his​ eyes set on‍ the darkened windows,‌ wielded his sword‍ and sincerely hoped⁠​⁠ that would happen.‍⁠

He​‌ believed that only​ then would he​⁠ receive his just⁠⁠ reward.

What did you think of this chapter?
0 reactions

0 Comments


There are no comments yet. Be the first!

Reader Settings
Page mode
Timer
Text Indent
Auto scroll
Tap to read
Pin menu
Translate page
Select language to automatically translate chapter content.
Audio & AI Voice
This chapter has pre-loaded audio
Ads Blocker Image Powered by Code Help Pro

Ads Blocker Detected!!!

We have detected that you are using extensions to block ads. Please support us by disabling these ads blocker.